MPUMALANGA — The 2026 Mpumalanga local election results are now fully finalized, with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) confirming that 100% of the votes in the province have been counted and verified. The African National Congress (ANC) has emerged as the leading party in 14 councils, though the political landscape shows a drastic drop in their overall numbers compared to 2021 and a notable surge in support for newly formed political parties.
According to the finalized municipal outcomes, the ANC maintains its lead in councils including Bushbuckridge, Unazi, and Chief Albert Luthuli Municipalities. However, the party failed to secure an outright majority (50% plus one) in three other councils, resulting in hung municipalities. The Democratic Alliance (DA) finished second in the province overall. The DA successfully secured governance in the Govan Mbeki and Steve Tshwete local municipalities, taking Steve Tshwete from the ANC, who had led it during the 2021 elections.
The elections also marked a significant shift with the rise of the Service Delivery Party (SDP). Formed less than a year ago, the SDP is currently leading in the Victor Khanye and Mondo local municipalities. The party also secured a notable number of seats in the City of Mbombela and garnered significant votes in the Tabacho local municipality, positioning them as the third or fourth leading political party in the province. Meanwhile, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) maintained a strong second-place showing in their traditional stronghold municipality, and ActionSA, contesting its first local government elections in Mpumalanga, successfully won control of one council.
While the Results Operation Centre (ROC) in Mbombela confirmed the conclusion of the provincial count, the process faced localized challenges. The Steve Tshwete local municipality experienced significant delays, with vote capturing stalled at 28% late into the evening while other municipalities progressed. An IEC provincial manager acknowledged these operational challenges at the facility. At the Mbombela ROC, both the IEC spokesperson and the Democratic Alliance spokesperson were expected to provide further clarity on the results and operational issues, though they had not yet arrived at the time of the provincial wrap-up. The ROC is scheduled for decommissioning later this morning following the finalization of the provincial results.
The 2026 Mpumalanga local election results highlight a clear shift in voter behavior. Community feedback indicates that voters are increasingly moving away from traditional dominant parties toward new political formations and independents. This trend is largely driven by constituents following former ward councilors who have broken away from larger parties to form their own structures, with younger voters notably moving in tandem with their local representatives.
With several municipalities now classified as hung, coalition talks are expected to commence immediately. Political parties will now need to negotiate partnerships to form local governments, determining which alliances will be forged for the betterment of their respective communities.
